Rebirth in Hong Kong: From Dessert Shop to Industrial Empire

Chapter 212 Headhunter (Seeking monthly tickets, recommendations, and subscriptions!)
He deliberately walked to the side closest to the road and looked down.

Below, the outlines of two mansions nestled among the green trees are faintly visible, their house numbers being 73 and 79.

And No. 75 is located directly above the residences of Li Ka-shing and Pao Yue-kong!

Although they are not right next to each other, they are on the same road and are located on slightly higher ground.

"What's that?" Chen Bingwen casually pointed down.

The real estate manager glanced at them and smiled, "Oh, those two are also established luxury residences in Deep Water Bay."

Ship No. 73 belongs to the chartering magnate of Global Shipping.

Number 79 is a property owned by Mr. Li Ka-shing of Cheung Kong Holdings.

Chen Bingwen nodded, now fully understanding.

right here.

Once he was sure he was in the right place, he entered the villa.

As expected, the interior of the villa was old, with the decoration style still stuck in the past twenty or thirty years. In some places, you could even smell a faint musty smell. However, the ceiling was very high, the space was open, and the structure was not a big problem.

"What restrictions are there for rebuilding?" Chen Bingwen asked.

"According to current regulations, the plot ratio allows for the reconstruction of a four-story villa with a total usable area of ​​approximately 9000 square feet."

Gardens, swimming pools, tennis courts and other supporting facilities can all be arranged.

Because the plot of land is large enough, even after construction is completed, there will still be a considerable amount of open space remaining.

The manager answered skillfully, "Moreover, the widening of Deep Water Bay Road and the upgrading of underground pipelines were just completed here two years ago, so there shouldn't be any major municipal projects to disturb us for the next ten years."

Those old banyan trees by the entrance are protected and cannot be cut down; they form a natural barrier for this villa.

As Chen Bingwen listened, he calculated in his mind.

The land plot of 2 square feet was priced at HK$4500 million, which works out to approximately HK$2250 per square foot.

Meanwhile, luxury sea-view residential land in Repulse Bay at the same time costs at least HK$3000 per square foot.

This is indeed a price haven.

People at this time valued direct access to the sea, so properties in slightly higher elevations were undervalued.

But in a few years, people will realize that properties that combine tranquility, views, privacy, and convenience are the real top-tier finds.

More importantly, he knew about the future development of this place.

Deep Water Bay Road will become a veritable "dragon's den," attracting the most elite group of wealthy people on Hong Kong Island, and land prices will soar to an astonishing level.

What may seem like a slight disadvantage now—a slightly elevated location and not a direct ocean view—will become a huge advantage in the future due to its unparalleled privacy and exclusive social circle.

"What about the price?"

What's the lowest you can negotiate?

Chen Bingwen asked directly.

The manager lowered his voice: "Mr. Chen, to be honest, the owner is eager to cash out and return to the UK. Their asking price is actually around 3000 million."

If you can pay in full upfront, the price might be even lower.

3000 million.

The land price is less than HK$1500 per square foot.

Chen Bingwen almost couldn't help but make the decision on the spot.

This is practically a steal!

But he remained outwardly calm: "Well, the location is alright, but the house is too old. Demolishing and rebuilding it would require a lot of money and time."

I'll discuss it with my team and get back to you.

"Okay, Mr. Chen, please take your time to consider it."

However, please hurry, as such a good betting opportunity will attract attention.

The manager said with a forced smile.

On the way back from the villa, Chen Bingwen said to Ali, "Notify Attorney Gu and have him take the lead in following up on the acquisition of 75 Deep Water Bay."

The target price is around HK$3000 million, the sooner the better. Payment terms are negotiable, but the property rights must be clear and there can be no outstanding issues.

“Understood, Mr. Chen,” Ali replied.

"In addition, have Attorney Gu contact HSBC to inquire about the mortgage loan policy for this type of property."

Although we have enough funds, why use our own principal when we can use bank loans?

Chen Bingwen recalled that in 1979, HSBC was very proactive in providing mortgages for high-quality assets put up for sale by British trading companies, with down payments as low as 30%.

He could easily leverage this deal with a small amount of his own capital.

A few days later, thanks to the efficient operation of Gu Yongxian's team, the acquisition negotiations progressed rapidly.

The seller was indeed eager to make the sale, and after two rounds of bargaining, an agreement was finally reached for HK$2850 million.

Chen Bingwen paid 30% of the down payment, or HK$9 million, while the remaining HK$19.5 million was financed by a 5-year mortgage loan from HSBC.

On the day of the signing, Chen Bingwen signed his name on the acquisition documents.

Unlike when I bought the Golden Garden, I feel quite happy to be able to buy a villa on Deep Water Bay Road.

This is not just a residence, but a highly promising investment and a symbol of future status.

75 Deep Water Bay Road, the core member of this future "Dragon's Nest", has now officially changed hands.

Although the news wasn't deliberately publicized, it still spread like wildfire within the elite inner circle.

Many people are talking about how Chen Bingwen, a newly emerging tycoon, has invested nearly 30 million yuan to move into Deep Water Bay, becoming neighbors with shipping magnate and Li Ka-shing.

This seems to be a strong signal, announcing that a new generation of forces in Hong Kong's business community has officially stepped onto the top stage.

After receiving the keys, Chen Bingwen did not immediately begin reconstruction.

Instead, they asked the construction team to do some simple repairs first, so that the villa could at least be habitable for the time being.

He also instructed Zhao Gang to arrange for basic security upgrades to the villa, including the installation of surveillance and alarm systems, and to begin searching for a reliable housekeeping team.

As for security personnel, with Zhao Gang around, reliable demobilized soldiers can be brought in from the mainland at any time, so he doesn't need to worry about it.

After dealing with the villa issue, the headhunting firm also sent some initial news.

"Mr. Chen, Mr. Ma Shimin didn't directly refuse. He said he was willing to make contact and have a chat. Mr. Michael is in Singapore, and the headhunter has already sent a message through an intermediary, but there hasn't been a reply yet. Mr. Du Huilian's situation is a bit more complicated. He is currently a pillar of the company, so it's more difficult to poach him, but the headhunter said they will do their best." Ali reported on the headhunter's progress.

“Very good.” Chen Bingwen nodded. “We can arrange a meeting with Ma Shimin.”

For the others, continue to follow up; the terms can be offered more generously.

He knew that poaching talent was not something that could be done overnight, especially for top talent, which required patience and the right timing.

Two days later, Huo Jianning knocked on Chen Bingwen's office door with a thick stack of documents.

"Mr. Chen, this is a preliminary summary of Qingzhou Yingni's financial data for the past three years, as well as a summary of its major fund transfers and related transactions."

"Director Fang has reviewed it and asked me to report back to you."

Huo Jianning placed the documents on the table, his expression solemn.

"This is a serious problem?" Chen Bingwen looked through the reports. Although he was mentally prepared, he still frowned when he saw the specific numbers.

Qingzhou Yingni's cement business has extremely low profit margins, high management costs, and several accounts receivable have been outstanding for a long time, making them difficult to recover.

Furthermore, the fund transfers between the related companies were rather arbitrary, lacking clear agreements and risk controls.

"It's a bit more complicated than I expected."

Huo Jianning frankly stated, "Qingzhou Yingni has many financial loopholes, and the most urgent task is to stop the bleeding."

Related-party transactions need to be re-regulated; otherwise, future auditing and supervision will pose significant problems.

I have drafted a preliminary rectification plan, which includes tightening credit policies, handling non-performing assets, standardizing related-party transaction procedures, and establishing an internal audit system.

Chen Bingwen carefully examined Huo Jianning's plan; it was well-organized, decisive, and hit the nail on the head.

This is the value of professionals: they can quickly identify problems and propose solutions.

"We'll proceed according to your plan," Chen Bingwen decided directly. "Who needs to be dismissed, what processes need to be adjusted—we'll communicate directly with Director Fang and push this through with all our might."

I want to see a fundamental improvement in Qingzhou Yingni's financial situation within three months.

"understand!"

Huo Jianning nodded heavily in agreement.

Just as Huo Jianning was making every effort to reorganize the finances of Qingzhou Yingni, news also came from Ma Shimin's side.

"Mr. Chen, Ma Shimin has agreed to meet."

The meeting is scheduled for next Saturday afternoon at Clearwater Bay Golf Club.

"it is good."

A slight smile appeared on Chen Bingwen's lips.

Clearwater Bay is located in a relatively remote area and is a private golf club, which ensures good confidentiality. It seems that Ma Shimin is also interested in making contact with them.

Clearwater Bay Golf Club, weekend.

Chen Bingwen and Ma Shimin walked side by side on the fairway, with Ali and Zhao Gang following at a distance.

Ma Shimin was tall and had the typical demeanor of an English gentleman, but his eyes revealed shrewdness.

"Mr. Chen, your headhunting is very persistent."

Ma Shih-min swung his club and hit the ball, the white ball drawing an arc. "To be honest, I was surprised that you found me."

I work at Jardine Matheson, currently overseeing some business operations in the Asian region.

"Jardine Matheson is a large company, but it has a seniority system and many rules."

Chen Bingwen smiled faintly, “Mr. Ma Shimin is a man capable of great things, and he needs a larger stage and a more flexible mechanism.”

Although Sugar Capital is not as large as Jardine Matheson now, we are developing rapidly and have fewer restrictions.

We are optimistic about overseas markets, but we need someone who truly understands international rules and is willing to take the lead.

Ma Shimin stopped and looked at Chen Bingwen: "Mr. Chen is very direct."

I do have some reservations about some of Jardine Matheson's conservative practices.

However, changing jobs is a big deal.

"Of course. Sugar Heart Capital can give you enough authority and resources to explore overseas markets that you believe have potential."

In the initial stage, the target can be set smaller. I can approve an initial investment of HK$50 million for you, depending on your project plan.

If you make money, your team will get a share.

"I've lost money, consider it my tuition fee."

Chen Bingwen offered extremely tempting terms.

Ma Shimin's eyes flickered.

The HK$50 million in start-up capital, coupled with a high degree of autonomy, is far better than the resources he currently has to mobilize and the constraints he faces at Jardine Matheson.

Chen Bingwen's courage and trust moved him.

"Mr. Chen, your proposal is very attractive."

Simon Murray pondered for a moment and said, "I need some time to deal with the mess at Jardine Matheson and to prepare a detailed plan for you."

"no problem.

I'll wait for your message.

Chen Bingwen knew that the matter was about 70-80% settled.

Yingni, Qingzhou.

Huo Jianning's financial restructuring was swift and decisive. Several inefficient and problematic departments within Qingzhou Yingni were directly eliminated, a number of unqualified middle managers were dismissed, and new financial processes and auditing systems were quickly established.

These actions caused some commotion, but Chen Bingwen intervened and suppressed it.

With his support, Huo Jianning became even more emboldened in his actions.

However, the results were also very significant, with Qingzhou Yingni Company's financial transparency and management efficiency being significantly improved.

Meanwhile, the headhunters finally made a breakthrough in poaching McLeish.

After multiple rounds of communication through intermediaries, MacLehose agreed to come to Hong Kong soon to meet with Chan Bing-man.

Du Huilian, however, remained firm in his stance, and the headhunter continued to work on him.

(End of this chapter)